PICTURE SPECIAL: Kop that - Jackson is a Liverpool fan! Hollywood star parades his replica shirt on the Red carpet

By MATT LAWLESS FOR MAILONLINE
Updated: 07:41 EST, 16 July 2009

Hollywood superstar Samuel L Jackson refused to hide his love for Liverpool as he flashed off his replica Reds shirt in a public display of affection at the annual ESPY awards in Los Angeles.

The actor - who is understood to have a clause in all of his film contracts that allow him breaks during production to play golf - proudly paraded his Liverpool jersey on the red carpet at the star-studded sports ceremony, which he hosted on Wednesday night.

You'll never walk (on the red carpet) alone: Samuel L Jackson proudly displays his Liverpool shirt at the ESPY annual sports awards ceremony in Los Angeles

Jackson has been a devout Anfield fan ever since he starred in the 2001 Brit flick The 51st State, shot on location in Merseyside, where his character Elmo McElroy takes in a Liverpool-Manchester United clash during the drug drama's cilmax.

In an interview with The Word magazine in January this year, the 60-year-old revealed his title hopes for Rafa Benitez' side, adding most people are baffled by his love for the club.

He said: 'Title challenge this year? Yeah, they got a really good chance. It's a good team and they're playing well together - better than in a long time.

Fan zone: Jackson has his name emblazoned on the back of his Reds jersey

'I put my Liverpool gear on every now and again, and people say '"what the hell is that?"'

Jackson explained that he caught the 'whole soccer bug' whilst he was shooting The 51st State and the actor is certainly no stranger to the Kop.

He added: 'I went to Anfield to see the derby game when I was there, against Everton? That was cool. I enjoyed that.'

Mike Tyson, Serena Williams and Michael Phelps, meanwhile, were some of the many luminaries at the US event which celebrates excellence in sports performance.

It's a knockout: Boxing icon Mike Tyson and Wimbledon queen Serena Williams were also in attendance at the star-studded event

The 14-time Olympic champion Phelps was the night's biggest winner, scooping four awards in recognition of his amazing eight gold medal haul at last year's Beijing Games, including the coveted Best Male Athlete award, ending Tiger Wood's five-year reign.

Golden boy: Swimming sensation Michael Phelps won the Best Male athelte prize

The absent Woods, however, was awarded the consolation prize of best male golfer, while Ricky Hatton's ring-nemesis Manny Pacquiao collected the best fighter gong.